Report: Inmate's death caused by smuggled heroin

5:52 PM,
Jun. 25, 2013

James Barton/Provided

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James Barton died from a toxic mix of heroin, likely brought in by fellow inmates at the Hamilton County Justice Center, and prescription drugs he hoarded, but the only blame for his April 13 death belongs to him.

That was the conclusion of a Sheriff's Office report released Tuesday to The Enquirer that detailed how a 23-year-old man in jail for two months died from a drug overdose involving illegal and prescription drugs.

"This was an unfortunate and tragic situation that could have been avoided if James Barton made the right decision by not taking the heroin and avoiding anything that could ...